Poison Sumac in Oklahoma: Identification, Rash Symptoms, and Treatment

Poison Sumac: A Rash-Causing Plant Found in Oklahoma

Poison sumac is a woody shrub that can be found growing in wetland habitats across eastern Oklahoma. This plant is known for causing an itchy, irritating rash in people who come into contact with it. The rash is caused by an oily, resinous substance called urushiol that is found in all parts of the poison sumac plant. Read on to learn more about identifying poison sumac, how to avoid exposure, symptoms of poison sumac rash, and how to treat the rash if you develop one.

Identifying Poison Sumac

Poison sumac is a shrub or small tree that can grow up to 20 feet tall. It has compound leaves with 7-13 leaflets arranged in pairs along a central stem. The leaflets are 2-5 inches long, smooth-edged, and elliptical in shape. They turn bright red and orange in the fall. Poison sumac has gray bark and produces clusters of whitish berries. It thrives in boggy, wet soils and is often found along the edges of swamps, marshes, ponds, and streams.

Poison sumac can be distinguished from other similar woody wetland plants by its drooping clusters of berries and its leaflets that lack teeth along the edges. Poison ivy, in contrast, has white berries growing directly off the stems rather than in drooping clusters, and its leaflets have a coarsely toothed margin.

Avoiding Exposure to Poison Sumac

The best way to prevent coming into contact with poison sumac is to learn how to identify it and stay away from areas where it grows. Poison sumac thrives in wet, swampy environments in eastern Oklahoma. Be especially cautious in and around:

• Swamps
• Marshes
• Bogs
• Wetlands
• Ponds
• Lakeshores
• Stream banks

If you are hiking, fishing, hunting, or engaging in other activities that bring you into wooded wetland areas, wear long pants and long sleeves to cover exposed skin. Avoid brushing up against vegetation when passing through habitats where poison sumac may grow. The urushiol oil can be transferred from the plant onto your clothing, leaving you vulnerable to exposure even without direct contact with the plant itself.

Poison sumac's compound leaves turn bright shades of red and orange in the autumn. So be especially cautious when in wetland environments in the fall when the shrubs may be more visible. Teach children not to touch unknown plants and to avoid walking through dense underbrush where poison sumac may grow.

Symptoms of Poison Sumac Rash

If you are exposed to poison sumac, a rash will begin to develop within 1-2 days. First, you may experience an itchy or burning sensation at the site of contact. Within a day, small blisters will begin to appear where the plant oil touched your skin. The blisters may ooze and become crusty.

Over the next few days, the rash can spread across a larger area of skin and intensify in severity. The affected skin can become extremely red, swollen, and covered in blisters. The rash may be streaky in appearance, as the plant oil can spread when it initially comes into contact with the skin.

In severe cases, the rash may spread across large areas of the arms, legs, torso, and face. The blisters can grow together into weeping, fluid-filled sores. Other symptoms may accompany the rash, including:

• Itching or burning
• Redness
• Swelling
• Oozing blisters
• Crusting
• Pain
• Fever
• Fatigue
• Headache
• Nausea

The severity of the reaction depends on the amount of poison sumac oil that contacted the skin, as well as the sensitivity of the individual. The rash normally begins to recede within 1-2 weeks and disappears completely within a few weeks. However, scratching can exacerbate the rash and delay healing.

Treating a Poison Sumac Rash

If you suspect you have been exposed to poison sumac, wash the exposed skin right away with soap and cool water. Take a shower and wash your clothing to prevent further spread of the plant oil. If a rash develops, home treatment measures can provide relief:

• Cool compresses - Apply a cool, wet compress to the affected areas to help soothe itching and inflammation.
• Oatmeal baths - Baths with colloidal oatmeal can help reduce itching and dry out weeping blisters.
• Over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream - Apply a low-strength hydrocortisone cream to lessen swelling, redness, and itching.
• Antihistamines - Oral antihistamines like diphenhydramine (Benadryl) can reduce itching.
• Avoid scratching - Prevent infection and reduce damage to the skin by avoiding scratching the rash.

See your doctor if your rash is severe, covers a large area of your body, or if you experience signs of infection like oozing pus, red streaking, or fever. People with extensive poison sumac rashes may be treated with oral steroids or injected steroids to reduce swelling and itching. Antibiotics may be prescribed if a secondary bacterial infection develops in the blisters.

8 Other Plants Besides Poison Ivy and Oak That Can Cause Skin Irritation in Oklahoma

Poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac are notorious for the itchy rashes they cause through contact with their oily resin, urushiol. But many other plants in Oklahoma can also irritate your skin or cause allergic reactions, including:

1. Stinging Nettle

Stinging nettle grows across the state of Oklahoma and can be found in moist soils along stream banks, meadows, and woodland clearings. The leaves and stems are covered with tiny stinging hairs that inject chemicals when touched, causing a burning or stinging sensation, redness, bumps, and blisters.

2. Wood Nettle

Similar to stinging nettle, wood nettle is a perennial herb found in partial shade in eastern Oklahoma. The leaves and stems have stinging hairs that cause pain, bumps, blisters, and irritation when contacted. It grows in open woods and thickets.

3. Bull Nettle

Bull nettle is common across eastern and central Oklahoma in fields, thickets, and roadsides. The plant is covered in stinging hairs on the stems and underside of leaves. Brushing against bull nettle results in a painful stinging or burning sensation and rash.

4. Fireweed

Fireweed is a perennial herb that grows in disturbed soils in western Oklahoma. Contact with the leaves, stems, and flowers can cause redness, swelling, blisters, and dermatitis in sensitive individuals due to irritating hairs on the plants.

5. Pencil Cactus

Pencil cactus is a succulent plant with spiny stems that can be found in landscaping in Oklahoma. The sharp spines can cause injury and skin irritation. If they break off in the skin, pencil cactus spines can cause redness, stinging, inflammation, and infection.

6. Crown of Thorns

The crown of thorns houseplant has spiny stems and shapr thorns. Brushing against this common houseplant can result in skin punctures, cuts, redness, stinging, and irritation. Wear gloves when handling these plants.

7. Chinaberry Tree

Chinaberry is a tree found across Oklahoma that can grow up to 50 feet tall. The leaves, berries, and bark contain toxins that can cause rashes, especially in children. Chinaberry allergy can result in redness, swelling, blisters, and itching where the plant touched the skin.

8. Giant Hogweed

Giant hogweed is an invasive flowering plant found in northeast Oklahoma. The clear sap from the plant contains chemicals that cause photodermatitis when exposed to sunlight. This leads to painful burning, redness, swelling, and blistering that may scar.

Be cautious around unfamiliar plants in Oklahoma that may sting, irritate, or cause allergic rashes. While poison ivy, oak, and sumac are most notorious, many other plants can also trigger skin reactions. Identify plants before touching and wear gloves and protective clothing around irritating species.

When to Seek Medical Care for Plant Rashes

Most plant-induced rashes can be treated at home with remedies like cool compresses, hydrocortisone cream, and oral antihistamines. However, seek medical attention right away if you experience:

• A rash covering a large portion of the body
• Signs of infection like oozing pus, red streaking, swollen lymph nodes, or fever
• Severe swelling of the face, eyes, lips, or throat
• Difficulty breathing
• Blisters on more than one body part from suspected plant exposure

People with weakened immune systems and very young children are also at increased risk for complications from plant rashes. Seek emergency medical care if someone has a severe reaction with trouble breathing, swallowing, or extensive facial swelling after contact with an irritating plant.

Plant rashes can sometimes leave scars, especially if they become infected from scratching. See your doctor promptly if a plant rash is not improving within a few days with home treatment. They may prescribe oral or topical steroids, antibiotics, or other medications to help reduce the rash, swelling, and itching.

Preventing Exposure to Rash-Causing Plants

To avoid developing a rash from exposure to poisonous or irritating plants:

• Learn to identify dangerous plants in your region like poison ivy, oak, and sumac.
• Wear long sleeves, pants, socks, and closed toe shoes when hiking or in wooded areas.
• Cover bare skin when working in the garden or clearing brush.
• Keep your skin protected from plant sap, juices, or resin with gloves.
• Avoid brushing against plants you cannot identify.
• Do not burn plants, as the smoke may contain irritating oils.
• Teach children to recognize and stay away from hazardous plants.
• Wash skin and clothing right after potential plant exposure.

Take caution when around unfamiliar plants that could cause rashes until you can identify them. If you suspect you touched a poisonous plant, wash your skin immediately with soap and water to prevent a reaction. Recognizing dangerous species in your environment goes a long way towards prevention!

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.